IOM is currently supporting the integration of foreign workers in Turkey in two main ways.

The first initiative is in partnership with the ILO on a UN Joint Programme- funded by the European Union Trust Fund (MADAD)- to promote labour market integration of Syrians and host communities in Turkey. Together with the International Trade Centre, IOM will support and train Syrian and host community members to develop their innovative business ideas through the support of an Entrepreneurship Training Programme in eight provinces across Turkey starting in Autumn of this year.

In addition, IOM, is working with the Turkish Directorate General on International Labour under the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MoLSS), to facilitate the integration of seasonal Georgian migrant workers into the agricultural sector in the Black Sea region. These workers are helping cope with over productive harvests from tea and hazelnut plantations.

In an effort to inform governmental authorities, including mayors, governors and district governor about worker registration procedures for seasonal migrant workers from Georgia, IOM and the DG on International Labour conducted six scoping missions in Artvin, Rize, Giresun, Ordu, Trabzon, and Samsun provinces. During these missions, informative brochures designed and published in Turkish and Georgian, were shared with local authorities.